educational and thought-provoking:
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Made in L.A.
there's a screening of the documentary Made in L.A. tomorrow nite [Wed] at 7:30pm at Cal Tech in their Beckman Auditorium.
Here's a brief synopsis of this award-winning documentary:
"Made in L.A. follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. In intimate observational style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice."
Here's a brief synopsis of this award-winning documentary:
"Made in L.A. follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from trendy clothing retailer Forever 21. In intimate observational style, Made in L.A. reveals the impact of the struggle on each woman’s life as they are gradually transformed by the experience. Compelling, humorous, deeply human, Made in L.A. is a story about immigration, the power of unity, and the courage it takes to find your voice."
"i saw what i saw"
by sara groves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY
"your pain has changed me,
your dream inspires
your face a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what i am made of
your courage asks me what i'm afraid of
and what i know of love
and what i know of God."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSdP6PqsbJY
"your pain has changed me,
your dream inspires
your face a memory
your hope a fire
your courage asks me what i am made of
your courage asks me what i'm afraid of
and what i know of love
and what i know of God."
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"spend yourself"
i gave announcements at my small group tonite. "so?" you say. well, i nearly pissed in my pants and broke out in a sweat, coz i was so nervous. i guess i'm blogging about this coz i'm just so freakin' relieved. i hate public speaking. "you call that public speaking?" yes, i call that public speaking. i can't think straight when ppl are staring at me. i fumble over my words, no matter how rehearsed i am. i stutter, say "um" and "uh" repeatedly, and just generally wish i was invisible. i try to avoid any type of public speaking but i couldn't get out of this one. and trust me, i tried. so i'm glad the evening's over.
okey, on to more important stuff.
tonite's topic was justice. my friend troy led the lesson...he focused on isaiah 58 and had us write down observations and put them into four categories: actions that we thought were pleasing to God, the motivations of those actions, actions that actually do please God, and the results of those actions. basically, his point was that our praise and worship are empty if we aren't willing to serve others and do what we can to right wrongs in Jesus' name. things like social justice shouldn't be ideas that we're afraid of or dismiss as "liberal issues," but things that we should respond to. ppl being oppressed, exploited, and killed are terrible terrible things. and we should care enough to try to do something about that. we're called to care for the poor, feed the hungry. set the oppressed free. he encouraged us to "spend ourselves" on behalf of others and it was really inspiring. my friend rachel came and talked a bit about her experiences in thailand, working with orphans, displaced ppl, and sex workers. she's going back in june to spend a year working with burmese refugees and migrant workers in thailand. her experiences were also very inspiring. i hope this sets into motion our small group being more interested and active in missions and humanitarian issues. i think every believer is called to these things, whether or not they ever go abroad. i hope as the years pass, that eman and i will be able to transform this conviction into action when opportunities arise...i hope we aren't afraid to "spend ourselves."
okey, on to more important stuff.
tonite's topic was justice. my friend troy led the lesson...he focused on isaiah 58 and had us write down observations and put them into four categories: actions that we thought were pleasing to God, the motivations of those actions, actions that actually do please God, and the results of those actions. basically, his point was that our praise and worship are empty if we aren't willing to serve others and do what we can to right wrongs in Jesus' name. things like social justice shouldn't be ideas that we're afraid of or dismiss as "liberal issues," but things that we should respond to. ppl being oppressed, exploited, and killed are terrible terrible things. and we should care enough to try to do something about that. we're called to care for the poor, feed the hungry. set the oppressed free. he encouraged us to "spend ourselves" on behalf of others and it was really inspiring. my friend rachel came and talked a bit about her experiences in thailand, working with orphans, displaced ppl, and sex workers. she's going back in june to spend a year working with burmese refugees and migrant workers in thailand. her experiences were also very inspiring. i hope this sets into motion our small group being more interested and active in missions and humanitarian issues. i think every believer is called to these things, whether or not they ever go abroad. i hope as the years pass, that eman and i will be able to transform this conviction into action when opportunities arise...i hope we aren't afraid to "spend ourselves."
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Jacob Maarse Flowers
this Valentine's Day, i wanted to keep it low-key, relaxed, and cheap. so we had a great dinner [a day early, to avoid VDay prices] at Cheesecake Factory [coz i had a gift card] and then hung out at Borders.
eman, however, was kind enuff to bring a special delivery for me...flowers. and not just any flowers...flowers from my favorite florist...Jacob Maarse! at first glance, their flowers seem pretty pricey, but i totally think they're worth it. i heard that they have their flowers flown in, and i believe it, coz i know they don't get them from the flowers' market downtown...i go downtown several times a year to make my own floral arrangements, and i don't see the types of high quality flowers that Jacob Maarse uses. and for some reason, Jacob Maarse flowers seem to last longer. and they don't skimp on their arrangements at all. their arrangements don't have too many "fillers" of greens, and they never use baby's breath. so considering the quality of flowers, the number of actual stems, and how long they last, i'd say you pretty much get what you pay for. so needless to say, i love flowers. and i ADORE Jacob Maarse flowers.
here's what my arrangement looked like...it even came wrapped in pretty red paper and printed cellophane. after a few days, i took the arrangement apart to create three mini-arrangements ["delicate," "modern," and "sophisticate"] to preserve the flowers that were starting to wilt. now there's value...one gorgeous large arrangement broken up into three mini ones...I LOVE IT!!!
eman, however, was kind enuff to bring a special delivery for me...flowers. and not just any flowers...flowers from my favorite florist...Jacob Maarse! at first glance, their flowers seem pretty pricey, but i totally think they're worth it. i heard that they have their flowers flown in, and i believe it, coz i know they don't get them from the flowers' market downtown...i go downtown several times a year to make my own floral arrangements, and i don't see the types of high quality flowers that Jacob Maarse uses. and for some reason, Jacob Maarse flowers seem to last longer. and they don't skimp on their arrangements at all. their arrangements don't have too many "fillers" of greens, and they never use baby's breath. so considering the quality of flowers, the number of actual stems, and how long they last, i'd say you pretty much get what you pay for. so needless to say, i love flowers. and i ADORE Jacob Maarse flowers.
here's what my arrangement looked like...it even came wrapped in pretty red paper and printed cellophane. after a few days, i took the arrangement apart to create three mini-arrangements ["delicate," "modern," and "sophisticate"] to preserve the flowers that were starting to wilt. now there's value...one gorgeous large arrangement broken up into three mini ones...I LOVE IT!!!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
gramma
my gramma's 92 years old. or something like that. she's way up there. she's a pretty independent, robust, lucid little lady. tells it like it is, and doesn't give a shit who's around. but she's fair. she's wise, and she doesn't give lip service. i had a hard time with her personality growing up, but we're friends now. she prays for me and eman every morning she says. she want us to live well and enjoy each season of our lives.
this afternoon i rushed her to the doctor's office. she had been sick for three weeks and wasn't strong enough to walk to the bus station to get to the doctor's office on her own. she never calls to ask for help. not coz she's proud, but coz she's independent. she's been living alone without my granpa for 20 years now. she's a tough old broad. i usually just go see her on my own without any prompting. she doesn't like to ask her grandkids to visit. but this afternoon she called both me and eman and i knew something was not good. it was in her voice. so weak. like someone else's gramma.
"i can't eat or drink. i have no strength. i can't go the doctor's. i didn't sleep last nite. do you think i need a different kind of medicine?" no gramma. you need to go to the doctors. so i picked her up and took her. turns out she was dehydrated, just as eman predicted. they hooked her up to an IV and i waited while she drifted in and out of sleep. two hours passed, and then they told me i could take her home. she walked a little straighter...said she felt a bit stronger with the IV.
i was glad to take her home. i was dreading the doctor telling me that she would have to be admitted to the hospital. even though eman works in one, i hate hospitals. i hope to never have to go to one unless i'm giving life, and even then i want to be knocked out anyway. i know i wasn't ready to send my gramma to the hospital. i silently willed her to not have to go. it worked.
she's stable enough right now, but there's no telling how she's going to feel tomorrow or the day after. being sick for 3 weeks when you're ninety-something and living alone sucks ass. having a granddaughter who feels helpless and is quietly scared that she's going to lose you sucks harder. God help me not to freak out every time gramma gets sick. and God help me to serve her well when she is.
this afternoon i rushed her to the doctor's office. she had been sick for three weeks and wasn't strong enough to walk to the bus station to get to the doctor's office on her own. she never calls to ask for help. not coz she's proud, but coz she's independent. she's been living alone without my granpa for 20 years now. she's a tough old broad. i usually just go see her on my own without any prompting. she doesn't like to ask her grandkids to visit. but this afternoon she called both me and eman and i knew something was not good. it was in her voice. so weak. like someone else's gramma.
"i can't eat or drink. i have no strength. i can't go the doctor's. i didn't sleep last nite. do you think i need a different kind of medicine?" no gramma. you need to go to the doctors. so i picked her up and took her. turns out she was dehydrated, just as eman predicted. they hooked her up to an IV and i waited while she drifted in and out of sleep. two hours passed, and then they told me i could take her home. she walked a little straighter...said she felt a bit stronger with the IV.
i was glad to take her home. i was dreading the doctor telling me that she would have to be admitted to the hospital. even though eman works in one, i hate hospitals. i hope to never have to go to one unless i'm giving life, and even then i want to be knocked out anyway. i know i wasn't ready to send my gramma to the hospital. i silently willed her to not have to go. it worked.
she's stable enough right now, but there's no telling how she's going to feel tomorrow or the day after. being sick for 3 weeks when you're ninety-something and living alone sucks ass. having a granddaughter who feels helpless and is quietly scared that she's going to lose you sucks harder. God help me not to freak out every time gramma gets sick. and God help me to serve her well when she is.
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